CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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EMMA
I shuffled my way to work, noticing the number of cars in the parking lot. It was uncommon for this small supermarket to have that many customers in one day. Without paying much attention to the situation, I kept on listening to the music on my iPod and headed straight through the staff entrance. Lost in my own head, I bumped into a girl dressed far too fancy to be around this area.
“Sorry,” I said as I stepped past her.
I felt her tap my shoulder. Reluctantly, I took out my earphones and turned around.
“Excuse me,” she started, “are you Emma Mitchell?”
I should’ve said no and walked away. But I wasn’t used to strangers knowing my name, or waiting through the back entrance, where all the bins and rubbish were thrown.
Instead, silly me, I answered, “Yes, who’s asking?”
To which she said, “Hello, I’m Claudette Brown. I write for a celebrity blog, and I was wondering if there was any chance I could ask you some questions?”
Why did I not click on this before? I mean, you didn’t see pearly white teeth around here very often, and her North American accent stood out like a sore thumb.
I was never brought up to be impolite, and I knew if my mother knew what I was about to do, she would be mortified.
“Fuck off and leave me alone,” I spat at her and kept walking.
“Emma!” she called after me, and like the idiot I was, I turned around. That was when the flash of a camera blinded me.
I managed to open the door and close it before she had the chance to take any more pictures.
Once I was safely inside, it was obvious that the shop hadn’t opened. I headed to the staff lockers to see if there was any management. I needed to know what was going on.
At that moment, my phone pinged, announcing a text message.
I rummaged through my bag in haste, throwing most of its contents onto the floor and swearing at myself for always choosing massive bags and filling them with rubbish. Finally, I found it.
“Yes!” I exclaimed, dropping the bag on top of the used tissues and other useless things that lived in my bag.
James: That’s me, just boarded my flight in London. Had an awesome time. It was lovely to see you, speak soon. James McNair, Livingston Community High School xxx
I was smiling like a fool, clutching the phone tightly against my heart, daydreaming of James coming back and sweeping me off my feet, when Claire slumped beside my locker.
“So, it’s you they’re looking for,” she retorted, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Who? What?” I asked, confused. Claire had never been my favourite person. She always tried to step on people’s toes to get where she wanted.
“Susan had to ask permission from Head Office to keep the place closed until she could get in touch with you. All those people outside came in asking for you and about you.”
“All those people? I only saw one,” I said. “Where’s Susan?”
“Is it true? Are you James McNair’s new toy?”
Patience, I needed patience. “No, I’m not. He’s just a friend. Now can you tell me where Susan is?”
Defeated, she answered, “In her office.”
I walked away from her without saying another word. As I made my way to Susan’s office, I walked into her.
“Emma, I was hoping I could speak to you in my office, please.” Her face was void of emotion.
Her office was a minute windowless room, cluttered with broken tills, empty coin bags, and paperwork.
I was waiting for the worst news. I couldn’t recall doing anything wrong, and now the thoughts were that something bad had happened. I kicked myself for not phoning my parents more often.
Susan’s stern face changed into a glowing smile. It occurred to me that I had never seen her smile, and it took me aback how different she looked.
“How can I say this? As you’ve been… pursued by the media, we have decided that, not only because of the need of the business but your safety, that you have paid leave until this has calmed down.” She paused for a couple of seconds. “And please give my thanks to your friend James.”
She must have sensed I was confused, not entirely sure what she was talking about, because she continued, still smiling. “He sent Annie, my daughter, a basket full of goodies. It arrived yesterday.”
It finally dawned on me what she was saying. I remembered James agreeing to send her daughter something on the condition I finished my shift early.
“Awesome, I’ll let him know,” I replied. “Should I stay today or go straight home?”
“You should go home. If you want, we can call a taxi.”
I nodded while opening the door to leave. I needed to talk to someone, and Amanda was the only one I could think of.
“Hey, chick, how’s work?” Amanda’s happy voice cheered me up, probably happy to have a morning off.
I thought it would be best to spit it out, come clean. Sooner or later she would find out.
“I’m being sent home. There seem to be too many people asking about me, and Susan thought it would best if I stayed home, you know, until further notice.”
“Oh, honey! You need to speak to James, maybe he can help.”
I rubbed my face in exhaustion. “Okay, I think you might be right. Is there anyone outside the flat?”
“Yeah, not as many as yesterday, but two girls are still camped outside.”
“I’ll text him now. See you soon,” I said before hanging up.
I tried to think what I was going to say, and carefully typed.
Me: Can you ring as soon as you get this? I need to speak to you.